"Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."

-The White Queen

(Lewis Carol's "Through the Looking Glass)

3 Things that are impossible to believe:

1.) The babies are 6 months and are both hovering around 18 lbs.

2.) Owen has his first two teeth! Crazy! (Ethan would say, "I know, right?!)

3.) Dave and I bought a mini-van!

There are so many great things occurring all at the same time right now that it has been hard to find the time to sit down and give a 'good' update!

First, the babies did indeed turn 6 months old! In my mind, I still think of them as 2-3 month olds. Surely my babies can't be SIX MONTHS old! Well, indeed they are, and Owen has the two teeth to prove that he is charging straightway into a big boy. Emmett is not far behind. He is VERY drooly. AND, I think they have top teeth trying to poke through as well! And while we are discussing mouths and teeth and such, Emmett will be having surgery on Tuesday, January 28th (one week from today) to have a jejunostomy tube placed (a.k.a. j-tube, or feeding tube). While I am pleased with this progress, it is still difficult for me to feel ready to send my babies to surgery again. It never gets easier. Owen's surgery has not been scheduled yet, but he will not be too far behind.

Two weeks ago, the dr's decided I needed to begin learning trach care, which encompasses cleaning the trach site, switching the strap that holds the trach in place (which occurs 2x daily), and changing out the actual trach (1x weekly). The first time, I watched Owen get his trach replaced, and then I replaced Emmett's. Let me tell you, I was terrified, but all went smoothly, and Emmett was an angel; he tolerated my learning curve.

The process (for those of you who are interested) includes a few things:

1. cleaning around the stoma (the opening into the throat)

2. releasing the incredibly strong velcro strap and washing and drying the skin underneath while anchoring the trach to the stoma. (as well as checking the skin for irritation or skin-breakdown.)

3. (this is the extra-scary, incredibly difficult part) removing the trach and slipping a new one in efficiently and painlessly.

4.) wrapping the strap back around the neck and ensuring the velcro is securely placed.

This past week, I attempted a trach change on Owen. The result was utter failure!! Earlier that morning, he had pulled the trach out and had caused bleeding around the stoma, so when I pulled out the trach and tried to replace it with the clean one, there was a screaming baby, and little bit of blood, and freaked out momma!! The nurse quickly took over, and all in all, I was more upset about the whole thing than Owen. As soon as the strap was down, and he was free to wiggle and squirm, he was a happy baby! I was still a sniffling, crying, upset mess. Ugh.

And guess what.

I get to try again on Monday.

Oh, raspberries.

This past weekend, Dave and I decided to begin our hunt for a mini-van. We weren't planning on buying anything, we just wanted to do some retail research on Honda Odysseys and Nissan Quests, but boy howdy, if we didn't end up finding not what we were looking for, but exactly what we were looking for all at the same time! We happily ended up with a 2010 Toyota Sienna. It is comfortable. It is functional. And the WHOLE family will fit! Ethan's favorite part is that it has a DVD player. lol Liam just enjoys being able to see EVERYTHING because the windows are HUGE.

I never dreamed I would be a mini-van mom. Ever. In fact, I had my best friend, Julie, pegged as the one who would drive a mini-van. She drives a truck big enough to BE a mini-van, but everyone knows that mini-vans sweetness-o-meter is off the charts, and trucks are merely bottom dwellers on the coolness factor charts...bahahahaha!

Moving along. I am sure there are about a hundred other things I could post about, like my grandparents coming from Arkansas for an amazing and much needed visit! Mammow, who has been ITCHING to get her hands on her newest grandbabies, and then get them to the nearest rocking chair, was able to hold both boys for her first time this weekend. Emmett and Owen just loved it!

Mammow, Pappow, and Emmett

Mammow, Pappow, and Owen

So, as I was saying, there are probably about a hundred other things, I could tell you, but I think we have covered all the important things for now. And so I will leave you with this:

3 good things:

1.) The good people of Waterview Church of Christ and all of those who have contributed to the babies' trust fund who made it possible for us to get a van for the babies and our family.

2.) Finding a support group of families who have been through similar situations in the fb group Families of Conjoined Twins.

3.) Finding and making new friends, and catching up with old friends.

May God bless and keep you all.

This one's for you, Aunt Sarah and Uncle Tris! Owen happily showing off his Union Jack.

I've been praying daily for your precious family . Thank you so much for the updates and the pictures . They are so handsome and I love the shirt that says "made to be royal ." That is so true they were both born into the Lord's army . I will continue in my daily prayers for your family until I read the post that says " they're both healed and at home ." May God continue to bless you all with His love , mercy and strength .

Reply

Toni Joubert

1/21/2014 08:53:13 am

I have followed the babies stories since the first posting went up and I'm so happy that they are doing so well and have gotten so big.. May God bless your whole family...Truly a miracle story

I love ready your stories but mostly seeing the boys and their cute little faces God Bless you all ~ Karen

Reply

jen

1/22/2014 12:39:04 am

So many congrats your way for all the milestones!
I remember when my DD was in NICU and the first time we had to change her trach - believe me, it gets SO much easier..you won't even think twice when doing it soon! I remember the nurses kept telling me it gets easier - but never believing them - but it really does! Hang in there, you'll get the hang of it!

Reply

Dahlia

4/15/2014 03:09:14 pm

While having an ultra sound you noticed the abnormalities, at which point, you should have looked at your finances and decided if UOU could afford to take care of your babies and not have to rely on the charity of others-aren't you shamed taking from others? It's your responsibility!!! You should have just aborted due to the fact that God gave you too much and you wouldn't be able to afford the babies and be forgiven... Start over and get pregnant again with a healthy pregnancy. Now, your life is over... For what? You could have just reproduced again... Please take birth control and use a conform and foam you are too fertile and font know how to prevent pregnancies! Boo to you. No sympathy!